Pro Bears NFL Week 16

Bryan Anger and Aaron Rodgers helped Dallas and Green Bay clinch NFC East and NFC North titles to highlight NFL Week 16 performances by former Cal players who finished their collegiate careers with the Golden Bears. Anger averaged 53.5 yards per punt and had a 50.0 net yards per punt average in Dallas' 56-14 win over Washington, while Rodgers completed 24-of-34 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 115.1. Rodgers' broke Green Bay's franchise record for touchdown passes with his first scoring toss.

With two weeks remaining in the NFL's regular season, nine other Bears are on teams that remain in the hunt for a playoff spot including Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers), Stephen Anderson (Los Angeles Chargers), Camryn Bynum (Minnesota), Jaylinn Hawkins (Atlanta), DeSean Jackson (Las Vegas), Cameron Jordan (New Orleans), Jordan Kunaszyk (Washington), Alex Mack (San Francisco) and Patrick Mekari (Baltimore).

Jordan had the highlight performance from that group with six tackles, two sacks (-9 yards), a single tackle for loss, and a pair of quarterback hits, while Jackson had four receptions for 44 yards with his Raiders' squad the only one to pick up a Week 16 victory.

Following is how each of Cal's 26 former players on active NFL rosters (15), injured/reserve lists (2), practice squads (5), and coaching staffs (4) fared in Week 16, as well as a quick season summary, their team's 2021 record and playoff position, and Week 17 information. Pro Football Reference (players) and team (coaches) bios are available by clicking on each name. 
 
Active NFL Rosters (15)
Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16: L, 29-41, at Houston – 4 receptions, 35 yards
2021 Season: 8-7 (#9 AFC, #T2 AFC West) … 96 receptions (#2 AFC, #6 NFL), 1042 yards receiving, 5 TD … 5th Pro Bowl selection
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:05 pm PT, CBS): vs. Denver (7-8)
 
Stephen Anderson, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16: L, 29-41, at Houston – 2 receptions, 34 yards
2021 Season: 8-7 (#9 AFC, #T2 AFC West) – 15 receptions, 157 yards, 1 TD … tied for career high in touchdown receptions
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:05 pm PT, CBS): vs. Denver (7-8)
 
Bryan Anger, P, Dallas
Week 16: W, 56-14, vs. Washington – 4 punts, 214 yards, 53.5 yards per punt, 50.0 net yards per punt, 1 inside 20, 62 long
2021 Season: 11-4 (#2 NFC, NFC Playoff Spot Clinched … NFC East Champion) … averaging a career-high 48.4 yards per punt (#6 NFL) while his 44.3 net yards per punt (#2 NFL) is 0.2 yards per punt shy of his career-high 44.5 net yards per punt in 2019 … 1st Pro Bowl selection
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:25 pm PT, FOX): Arizona (10-5)
 
Camryn Bynum, S, Minnesota
Week 16: L, 23-30, vs. Los Angeles Rams – 2 tackles, 1 pass deflection
2021 Season: 7-8 (#8 NFC, #2 NFC North) … 25 tackles, 1 sack (-9 yards), 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 5:20 pm PT, NBC): at Green Bay (12-3)
 
Jake Curhan, OT, Seattle
Week 16: L, 24-25, vs. Chicago – Made his third consecutive start and played all 56 offensive snaps
2021 Season: 5-10 (#14 NFC, #4 NFC West) … has started each of the past three games and played in 13
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:25 pm PT, FOX): vs. Detroit (2-12-1)
 
Ashtyn Davis, S, New York Jets
Week 16: W, 26-21, vs. Jacksonville – Missed game on COVID-19 reserve list
2021 Season: 4-11 (#14 AFC, #4 AFC East) … 57 tackles, 0.5 sacks (-3 yards), 1 quarterback hit, 2 interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): vs. Tampa Bay (11-4)
 
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit
Week 16: L, 16-20, at Atlanta – Missed game on COVID-19 reserve list
2021 Season: 2-12-1 (#16 NFC, #4 NFC North) … 311-of-464 (67.0%), 3007 yards, 17 touchdowns, 8 interceptions; 17 rushes, 87 yards
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:25 pm PT, FOX): at Seattle (5-10)
 
Jaylinn Hawkins, S, Atlanta
Week 16: W, 20-16, vs. Detroit – 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss … started his third straight game and played all 67 defensive snaps at free safety
2021 Season: 7-8 (#9 NFC, #T2 NFC South) … 24 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 pass deflections
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): at Buffalo (9-6)
 
DeSean Jackson, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 16: W, 17-13, vs. Denver – 4 receptions, 44 yards … season-high receptions … third start of season
2021 Season: 8-7 (#10 AFC, #T2 AFC West) … 19 receptions, 449 yards, 2 TD (Las Vegas – 11 receptions, 228 yards, 1 TD) … averaging 23.6 yards per reception on the season
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): at Indianapolis (9-6)
 
Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Jacksonville
Week 16: L, 21-26, at New York Jets – 8 receptions, 74 yards
2021 Season: 2-13 (#16 AFC, #4 AFC South) – 64 receptions, 698 yards, 3 touchdowns … has at least one catch in each of his last 112 games
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, CBS): at New England (9-6)
 
Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
Week 16: L, 3-20, vs. Miami … 6 tackles, 2 sacks (-9 yards), 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits
2021 Season: 7-8 (#10 NFC, #T2 NFC South) … 49 tackles, 8 sacks (-46 yards), 9 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits … has 4 sacks in last 2 games … 7th Pro Bowl selection
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:25 pm PT, FOX): vs. Carolina (5-10)
 
Jordan Kunaszyk, OLB, Washington
Week 16: L, 14-56, at Dallas … 2 tackles
2021 Season: 6-9 (#11 NFC, #3 NFC East) … 5 tackles
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): vs. Philadelphia (8-7)
 
Alex Mack, C, San Francisco
Week 16: L, 17-20, at Tennessee – played all 59 offensive snaps at center
2021 Season: 8-7 (#6 NFC, #3 NFC West) … has started all 15 games
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:05 pm PT, FOX): vs. Houston (4-11)
 
Patrick Mekari, G, Baltimore
Week 16: L, 21-41, at Cincinnati … played 57 of 59 offensive snaps
2021 Season: 8-7 (#8 AFC, #2 AFC North) … has played in 11 games with 10 starts
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): vs. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
 
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay
Week 16: W, 24-22, vs. Cleveland – 24-of-34, 202 yards, 3 touchdowns, 115.1 rating; 1 rush, -1 yard
2021 Season: 12-3 (#1 NFC, NFC Playoff Spot Clinched … NFC North Champion) … 323-of-475 (68.0%, #6 NFL), 3689 yards (#10 NFL), 33 touchdowns (#T4 NFL), 4 interceptions, 110.8 quarterback rating (#1 NFL); 30 rushes, 86 yards, 3 touchdowns … 10th Pro Bowl selection
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 5:20 pm PT, NBC): vs. Minnesota (7-8)
 
Injured Reserve (2)
Tyson Alualu, DL, Pittsburgh
Week 16: L, 10-36, at Kansas City
2021 Season: 7-7-1 (#11 AFC, #3 AFC North) ... 5 tackles, 1 quarterback hit … suffered an ankle fracture in Week 2 that caused him to be placed on the Reserve/Injured List
Week 17 (Monday, January 3, 5:15 pm PT, ESPN/ESPN2): vs. Cleveland (7-8)
 
Patrick Laird, RB, Miami
Week 16: W, 20-3, at New Orleans
2021 Season: 8-7 (#7 AFC, #3 AFC East) ... 1 rush, 4 yards; 3 receptions, 17 yards … suffered a knee injury in Week 13 that caused him to be placed on the Reserve/Injured List
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, CBS): at Tennessee (10-5)
 
Practice Squad (5)
Ian Bunting, TE, Dallas
Week 16: W, 56-14, vs. Washington
2021 Season: 11-4 (#2 NFC, NFC Playoff Spot Clinched … NFC East Champion
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:25 pm PT, FOX): Arizona (10-5)
 
Chad Hansen, WR, Atlanta
Week 16: W, 20-16, vs. Detroit
2021 Season: 7-8 (#10 NFC, #3 NFC South)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): at Buffalo (9-6)
 
Richard Rodgers II, TE, Philadelphia
Week 16: W, 34-10, vs. New York Giants
2021 Season: 8-7 (#7 NFC, #2 NFC East)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): at Washington (6-9)
 
Jordan Veasy, WR, Houston
Week 16: L, 3-31, at Indianapolis
2021 Season: 4-11 (#15 AFC, #3 AFC South)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 1:05 pm PT, CBS): at San Francisco (8-7)
 
Davis Webb, QB, Buffalo
Week 16: W, 33-21, at New England
2021 Season: 9-6 (#4 AFC, #T1 AFC East)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am, FOX): vs. Atlanta (7-8)
 
Coaches (4)
Austin Clark, Defensive Line Coach, Miami
Week 16: L, 20-23, vs. Jacksonville (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England) … Update
2021 Season: 7-7 (#11 AFC, #3 AFC East)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, CBS): at Tennessee (10-5)
 
Ron Rivera, Head Coach, Washington
Week 16: L, 14-56, at Dallas … 2 tackles
2021 Season: 6-9 (#11 NFC, #3 NFC East)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): vs. Philadelphia (8-7)
 
Vincent Rivera, Defensive Quality Control Assistant, Washington
Week 16: L, 14-56, at Dallas … 2 tackles
2021 Season: 6-9 (#11 NFC, #3 NFC East)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): vs. Philadelphia (8-7)
 
Richard Rodgers, Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, Washington
Week 16: L, 14-56, at Dallas … 2 tackles
2021 Season: 6-9 (#11 NFC, #3 NFC East)
Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 10 am PT, FOX): vs. Philadelphia (8-7)